INFLUENCE OF LINDANE AND PARAQUAT ON OXIDATIVE STRESS-RELATED PARAMETERS OF ERYTHROCYTES IN-VITRO

1 The influence of lindane and paraquat on oxidative stress-related pa rameters of the red blood cell was studied in vitro. 2 Lindane additio n did not modify either the t-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxygen uptak e of the erythrocytes and the induction time preceding it, or the acti vity of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glu cose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, in conditions of comparable levels of haemoglobin and methaemoglobin. 3 Red blood cells exposed to paraquat exhibited a concentration-dependent decrease in the t-butyl hydroperox ide-induced oxygen consumption and increments in either the induction period or in the activity of catalase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrog enase, with no changes in superoxide dismutase activity and a small de crement in that of glutathione peroxidase. 4 These data indicate that lindane does not interfere with the oxidant status of the erythrocyte, while paraquat addition leads to an increment in the anti-oxidant cap acity of the red blood cell.